Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-05
London Policemen.
THEIR DUTIES, SKILL AND CONVERSATIONS
The PREVENTION OF CRIME.

In force of $4,000 or 10 900 men, says a
London letter to the Philadelphia Press,
there are naturally a good many scamps.
Some accept brides, no doubt, from women
of the town, others drink from publicans, and
vet others cold meat and kisses from pretty
cooks but as rule the London policemen
seem to be-and have walked the streets of
the metropolis for nearly four montbs-a
very creditable lot of fellows who try to fill a
difficult position with as little friction as
possible. The idea pervadIng the metropol-
itan police force, and it is a good one, is that
it is better to prevent crime than to rnn up
the column of arrests. Over .otficiousness on
the part OF the police is not tolerated. The
police in London dare not use the club and
knock people about with the freedom prevail
ing in some Of the large American cities.
In the last 10 years 10000 persons, de-
scribed as prostitutes, were Appreciated in
London. This shows how extensively the
police deal with this class, and it is perhaps
surprising that more mistakes are not made.
Then comes the army of drunkards, % 900
strong, and some years $4,000. They have
to be run in TO the station houses at night,
and run out mex. morning by their friends.
Curiously enough, there are in London about
as many licensed houses for the sale of in
toxicating drinks as there are policemen,
namely, 10, $50. 1t does not always follow
that the arrests for drunkenness are highest
where the public houses are most numerous.
The division of Whitechapel heads the
gloomy list, and boasts nearly 2500 annual
arrests for drunkenness, and that OF Holborn
follows. Yet Holborn has 60 licenses and
Whtechapel 795. On the other hand, the
aristocratic division of Kensington has no
less than 1852 licenses and less 1900 arrests.
1t may be that Bill Sykes of Whitechapel is
more noisy in his cups than Lord Sniffenrake
of Kensington, or it may be that Bill is ''run
in" at q stage when my lord" is helped
home. This may be explanation. The fact,
however, remains that with nearly double the
number of licenses Kensingon has 1000 less
arrests for drunkenness per annum than
Whitechapel.
And now word about the pay of the Lon
don police force. The actual pay of the police
comes to little over S5,000,000 year.
There are five chief constables, with salaries
commencing at $4,000 and rising Sl25 year
to $4,000. There are % superinteudsnts with
salaries and allowances varying from $3.50
to S2375 a year; then come $50 inspectors,
whose pay varies from $40 to Sl755. There
is only one at the highest rate, but % have
over $1,000 year each, and $50 have between
$500 and $1,000 year. The sergeants num-
Der 1892, eight of whom have more than $3.50
year: 2l2 have more than $500, and all
the rest from S445 to S495 year. OF the
IL, 1884 plain constsbles, the highest pay re-
ceived by 50 of them is S4l7, and the lowest
given to 30l9 is S3l3 There are allowances
tor coal; the inspectors, sergeants and con.
stables are supplied with clothing, and the
police employed on special duty receive al.
lowances varying from so cents to SIS week
H.. Of ubi Il bxyt l,os
who employ them. There are also 20 inspec
tors, l03 sergesnts and 1890 constables at
tached to the reserve force, who receive
weekly allowance of Sl75 and 35 cents re
spectivey. Thus on any emergency. an ad
ditional 1900 men can be called into the field
The total cost of the metropolitan police fol
the last year was IS, 46l, 020.